Jet-propelled hydraulic pipeline cleaner with a skid,tangential jet and cleaning head



March 18, 1969 J A. KIRSCHKE 3,432,872

JET-PROPELLED HYD-RAULIC PIPELINE CLEANER WITH SKID, TANGENTIAL JET AND CLEANING HEAD sheet of 2 Filed Oct. 30. 1967 FIG l 22 l5 el le 60 25 24 I l M s 20 l 1 WY l .2 ////////////////1 lsf as ///////////mz5@a um 2l 3739 r[5| a g3 u f 7;\ n 25 4 Y /"\|5 FIG 2 43 30 35 a'll f 38 3i. W 28 se? H 3e v v f FIG 3 46 f /1 N@ 41 46 (/X'f" /l l 3| |NvENToR 44 ""u//f 49 JOHN A. KIRSCHKE BY FIG 4 M/%% March 18, 1969 J, A. KlRscHKE v 3,432,872

JET-PROPELILED HYDRAULIC PPELNE CLEANER WITH A SKID, TANGENTIAL JET AND CLEANING HEAD .filed oct. 3o, 1967 sneer of 2 FIG 9 INVENTOR JOHN A. KIRSCHKE United States atent O 3,432,872 JET-PROPELLED HYDRAULIC PIPELINE CLEANER WITH A SKID, TANGENTAL JET AND CLEANING HEAD John A. Kirschke, Ammann Road, Boerne, Tex. 78006 Filed Oct. 30, 1967, Ser. No. 678,849 US. Cl. -104.12 Int. Cl. B08b 3/02, 9/04 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A pipeline cleaner designed for use in conjunction -with a high-pressure pumping unit. When device is activated by hydraulic pressure through a cleaning hose the skid-mounted, jet propelled, hydraulic driven cleaning head is accelerated through the line cleaning obstructions or residue by means of cutting blade and/or high pressure jets of the cleaning head.

The subject invention is related to my previous invention entitled Hydraulic Waste Disposal Line Cleaner with Motor and Cleaning Head, Ser. No. 625,754. Although this invention is designed for analagous'use to prior invention, its construction, mode of operation, and results accomplished are substantially different.

The device of this invention is designed to be utilized in conjunction with a tank, truck or trailer incorporating a gasoline powered pump that boosts the line pressure from 600 to 1,000 p.s.i. The pump preferably should have a capacity of 80 to 100 gallons per minute. A positive displacement pump of the plunger type has been found satisfactory in the preferred embodiment. The pump is preferably driven by a power plant of 100 or more horsepower. The separate power unit may be utilized or a power takeoflc may be incorporated into the system utilizing the truck engine. A reel-mounted high-pressure hose of high capacity is preferred 'with suicient tensile strength to be retracted from the pipeline against the pull of the propelling jets thereby flushing the conduit to be clean.

The device of the present invention follows a helical course as it moves through the line to be cleaned. The radial cleaning jet positions the roots adjacent the wall and facilitates cutting by the hydraulic motor ydriven root cutter. When the device in the second species or configuration incorporating a tangential jet is utilized, the hydraulic motor serves as a governor or hydraulic brake to prevent the cleaning head from reaching excessively high r.p.m.s. When the tangential jet is discharged at right angles to the radius of rotation of the jets or cutter blade and at a -deected angle toward the rear of the device, scale, mud or paraffin deposits are stripped from the interior of the conduit and flushed to the rear by the propelling jets.

Prior devices known to the art include rotating cutters or cleaners mechanically propelled through the pipe or conduit and rotated mechanically by a cable such as motor-driven versions of the familiar plumbers snake.

The oil industry has for many years utilized hydraulic ICC driven rotary tools for removing parain deposits from the pipeline.

Difliculties with the prior art are numerous. Mechanical devices are cumbersome in use and subject to jamming. The self-propelled water jet cleaning tools known to the art are inadequate for removing roots and dense, compacted obstructions.

The torque developed by my copending application referred to above, though substantially exceeding the state of the art at the time of ling, is greatly exceeded by the torque developed by the tangential jet species of this invention as hereinafter described.

One of the objects of this invention was to develop a high torque self-propelled cleaning tool capable of removing the most stubborn root obstructions or compacted and congealed deposits from a conduit.

Another object was to utilize the resulting exceptional cleaning effect of a high-pressure jet striking an obstruction from a series of angles, thereby dispersing the deposit.

Experimental development work has disclosed that the oscillating helical movement of a jet-propelled tool not only has improved cleaning ability but will penetrate the foreign matter in a conduit substantially further than devices heretofore known to the art. The design of a device to accomplish the foregoing effects in a highly rened embodiment was the ultimate object of this invention.

The device of this invention includes a jet propulsion unit in conjunction With a positive displacement vaned hydraulic rotary motor. The exceptional high water pressure produced by the pumping unit is reduced through a metering valve to the vaned motor. A bypass tube is constructed through the axis of the vaned rotor to provide high pressure uid to the radial and tangential jets of the cleaning head. Fluid at a suitable reduced pressure drives the vaned rotor propelling the output shaft at an acceptable r.p.m. for the root-cutting head. When the tangential jet nozzle is attached to the output shafft and activated by the high pressure fluid, the torque produced is excessive to all normal requirements and the rate of rotations is such that if not dampened or governed, the bearings of the device would be destroyed. In the configuration utilizing a tangential jet, the rotor in its normal configuration or without vanes serves as a governor or fluid brake.

Other objects and the advantages of the invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art as the following views are considered in conjunction with a detailed study of the `description and claims.

FIG. l is an isometric view of the device with root cutter and radial jet operably mounted on the output shaft. The metal bonded rubber skid ris shown in a fragmented view partially in section.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the device taken on line 2 2 of FIG. l looking in the directions of the arrows, this view depicts the jet propulsion unit, the vaned rotor and the internal axial ilow conduit means.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the rotor of the device.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the vaned rotor and case taken on line 4-4 of FIG. l looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the T jet cleaning head taken on line 5-S of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the tangential jet cleaning head which may be operably attached to the output shaft in lieu of the T jet cleaning head depicted in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a sectional View of the tangential jet cleaning head depicted in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of a metal bonded rubber skid designed for use with a root cutter assembly as illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of a skid designed for use with a tangential jet cleaning head as illustrated in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7.

Referring now in detail to several views wherein like reference characters refer to identical or equivalent components throughout the entire description. Referring with particular emphasis to FIG. l and FIG. 2, the central propulsion and rotary drive unit can be characterized as the thruster motor unit 11 comprising a thruster assembly 12 and a motor assembly 13. The thruster motor unit 11 is enclosed in a skid assembly 14 which is constructed with a metal cylindrical body 15 encased in a plastic or rubber skid surface 16 vulcanized or bonded to the said cylindrical body. The skid assembly 14 includes metal skids 17 securely attached to the cylindrical body 15 by means of rivets 18 or other suitable fastening means. The metal skids 17 project rearward and inward to stabilize the unit in operation and assist in skidding the unit over obstructions when withdrawing it from the conduit being cleaned.

The thruster assembly 12 comprises a threaded inlet 19 into which can be screwed the connecting collar of the high pressure hose (not shown) or a threaded section of pipe (not shown) to which the hose can be connected. In order to simplify the machining process in manufacturing, the propelling conduits 20 are drilled through the thruster assembly case 21 into the threaded inlet 19 and reclosed and with casing plugs 22. A jet propulsion conduit 23 is drilled diagonally inward to communicate with propelling conduit 20, the outer portion is threaded into which ya stainless steel pipe plug 24 is screwed, the said plug is constructed with a propelling orifice 25.

Internal of the thruster assembly 12 communicating with the motor assembly is a central conduit 26. Threadibly mounted into the central conduit 26 is a metering orilice 27. Projecting axially from the motor assembly 13 and through the metering orifice 27 is the axial high pressure conduit 2S. The clearance between the two components comprise the metering jet 29.

Now considering the motor assembly 13 in detail, particular reference is made to FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. The vaned rotor 30 is preferably constructed from a stainless steel billet and is enclosed in a motor case 31 and supported for rotation by a copper alloy of brass, inlet body 32 at the inlet end and by a brass bearing 33 secured to motor case 31 encircling the output shaft 34. An improvement of extreme importance is incorporated in the motor assembly 13 of this device in thrust bearing 35 and clearance adjusting nut 36 and lock nut 37. Because of the relatively high hydraulic pressures at which this improved device is designed and capable of operating, the providing of a thrust bearing 35 and associated adjustments were mandatory. In the absence of the above combination, the vaned rotor 30 would be thrust forward in the motor case 31 and bind. In assembling the device for operation, the clearance adjusting nut 36 is tightened sufliciently to cause the rotor 30 to clear the motor case 31 at the juncture of the said case and the output shaft 34. When the proper adjustment is made, the lock nut 37 is secured. The rotor 30 is constructed with a series of inlet grooves 38. The high pressure hydraulic uid passes through the metering jet 29 proceeds through the rotor feed reservoir 39 and into the inlet passage 40 which intermittently communicates with the inlet grooves 38. The fluid forces the phenolic ber vanes '41 against the brass or bronze cylinder wall 42 of the motor case 31. The propelling orifice 43 admits the hydraulic fluid to the thrust side of the vanes 41. The pressure builds up thus forcing the vaned rotor 30 to turn. As the thrust action is partially completed, a vane uncovers the primary outlet passage 44 which discharges the uid through the motor case 31 into the outlet orilice 45. As one vane 41 un- 4 covers an outlet passage 44, the yfollowing vane 41 has rotated into such a position that its inlet groove 38 is in communication with the inlet passage 40. This overlapping cycle in combination with the utilization of a six (6) vaned rotor 30 insures the application of continuous torque to the output shaft 34. To insure the complete discharge of fluid from the system, any fluid forward of a vane 41 is discharged through the secondary discharge orifice 46. To maintain proper alignment of the inlet passage 40 and the inlet grooves 38, the motor case pin 47 is designed to fit into an aligning hole 48 in the inlet body 32. This motor case pin 47 also retains the brass or bronze cylinder 49 in proper position within the motor assembly 13.

One highly important improvement in the present invention over the prior art and my copending application are tool assemblies and operating features associated with high pressure hydraulic iiuid passing through the axial high pressure conduit 28 through the axis of the output shaft 34.

Referring particularly to FIG. 1 and FIG. 5 illustrating the device assembled specilically in a root-cutting contiguration, the mandrel blade extended 50 is secured to the output shaft 34 to facilitate this task, assembly holes 51 are drilled into the shaft. An Allen wrench, punch or similar device can be inserted into the holes 51 to retain the shaft 34 as the mandrel blade extended 5t) is being secured into position. A T jet cleaning head 52 is threadibly mounted on the output shaft 34 and communicating with the high pressure conduit 2S. In the preferred configuration, the solid plug 53 is mounted in the T jet cleaning head 52 opposite the root-cutter blade 54 and a jetted plug 55 is utilized adjacent to said blade. This assembly may, of course, be varied in many ways and numerous combinations utilized.

The primary and most revolutionary concept of the art is the configuration of the T jet cleaning head 52 utilizing a tangential jet 56 as illustrated in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. Tangential jet 56 is threadibly mounted and consequently angularly adjustable in the T jet cleaning head. The tangential jet 56 may be used in conjunction with the mandrel blade extended 50 and root cutter blade 54, however, the more frequently used preferred combination will be without the root cutter assembly 59. The high pressure tangential jet 56 may be positioned at any desired angle to the output shaft 34 from right angle to shaft to directly to the rear, The high pressure tangential jet 56 when angled at approximately 45 from the axis of the output shaft 34 possesses outstanding cleaning abilities. Very dense deposits will be dislodged from the conduit to 'be cleaned and ushed to the rear by the tangential jet 56 and the discharge of the thruster assembly 12.

The root cutter blade 54 is attached to the mandrel blade extended 50 by means of retaining screws 57. This permits utilization of blades of various lengths for larger or smaller conduits and to facilitate replacement of root cutter blade 51.

The skid assemblies 14 are made in two configurations. The sloping skid assembly 58 is illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 8. This model is designed to position the T jet cleaning head 52 and root cutter assembly 59 substantially in the center of conduit t-o be cleaned. The parallel sided skid assembly 60 is illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 9. This configuration is designed for use with the T jet cleaning head 52 without a root cutter assembly 59. This configuration is designed to fit more loosely in the conduit and permit helical oscillation of the device when used with the T jet cleaning head 52 either with or without the tangential jet 56. The skid assembly 14 is secured to the thruster motor unit 11 by Allen screws 61.

In placing the device in operation, the appropriate skid assembly 14 is selected; in view of the root cutter assembly 56 and/or the T jet cleaning head 52, designed to accomplish the desired results. The species of skid assembly 14 illustrated in FIG. 8 is designed for use with the root cutter assembly 56 and the species in FIG. 9 for use with the tangential jet 56. The assembled device is attached to the high pressure hose and the pumping unit activated. The thruster motor unit 11 by its designed action is selfpropelled into the conduit. The T jet cleaning head 52 either in the root cutter assembly 56 configuration or the tangential jet 53 species disperses obstructions in the conduit. Much of the debris will be flushed to the rear by the jet action. The hose may, however, be withdrawn from the conduit by means of a power reel while the unit is in operation, thereby completely flushing the conduit.

The device may be used in a so called water mole conguration which eliminates the skid assembly 14. This somewhat unconventional configuration of utilizing the thruster mot-or unit 11 with a T jet cleaning head 52, tangential jet 56 either with or without the root cutter assembly 59 has proved most effective in removing very stubborn obstructions. It is contemplated that the arrangement of the components may 'be varied in a number of ways to accomplish a desired effective result.

I claim:

1. A jet propelled pipeline cleaner comprising:

(a) a jet thruster assembly,

(b) a hydraulic motor assembly secured to said thruster assembly,

(c) a metering orice intermediate said thruster assembly and said hydraulic motor assembly,

(d) said hydraulic motor assembly including an axially mounted rotor including an output shaft,

(e) an axial high pressure conduit extending the length of said rotor and said output shaft, and

(f) ra T jet cleaning head secured to said output shaft and operably connected to said axial high pressure conduit.

2. The invention of claim 1 including a tangential jet operably attached to said T jet cleaning head.

3. The invention of claim 1 including a root cutter blade operably mounted on said output shaft.

4. The invention of claim 1 including a skid assembly substantially encasin-g said thruster assembly and said motor assembly, said skid assembly comprising:

(a) a cylindrical body portion,

(b) a resilient skid surface bonded to said cylindrical body, and

(c) metal skids secured to said cylindrical b'Ody and projecting laterally therefrom.

5. The invention of claim 1 including a root cutter assembly operably secured to said output shaft, said root cutter assembly comprising:

(a) a mandrel blade extender threadibly secured to said output shaft,

(b) retaining screws threadibly engaging said mandrel blade extender, and

(c) a root cutter blade secured by said retaining screws.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,549,761 8/1925 Fuchs et al. 15-104.12 1,717,986 6/1929 Liebau 15-104.12 2,232,018 2/1941 Wright 15104.12

EDWARD L. ROBERTS, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 134-167, 181 

